Device for effecting the mixing of gaseous strata



n. w. BURCKHARDT.

DEVICE .FOR .EFFECTING THE MIXING 0F GAS'EUS STRATA. APPLlcAloNfnE-oAUG. 10. 1929,

15419316, Patented Jung 13, 1922.

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RODOLPHE WILLIAMQ BURCKHARDT, OF MULHOUSE, FRANCE.

DEVCE FOR EFFECTING THE MIXING OF GASEUS STRATA.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnfd Jun@ 13, 1929 Application ledAugust 10, 1920. Serial No. 402,732.

To @ZZ wiz-0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, RoDoLPHn VILLIAM l3U1:C1 iri.\nD'r, citizen of theRepublic of 'lwitzerland, residing at Mulhouse, Department of theHaut-Rhin, in France, and having post-oflice address l() lxueSaint-Jean, in the said city. have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Effecting the Mixing` of Gaseous Strata (forwhich l have filed an application in France, July 31st, 1919) 5 and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention consists in a device for effecting rapidly the mixing ofgaseous strata flowing or circulating` in flues or other passages. Itsmain object is to mix with combustible gases the air necessary for theircombustion, but it may of course be applied wherever it is desired tomix any two gases circulating in one and the same passage.

As is well known, it is usually very diflik cult to mix combustiblegases rapidly with non-combustible gases and the means generallyemployed heretofore, in connection with steam boilers in particular, donot give the desired result. The chief difficulty to be overcome is thatdifferent strata of gases, such as issue from aboiler furnace, persistin flowing parallel to each other and it is essential that the mixing beeffected rapidly, i. e., while the gases are traversing as short adistance as possible. The present invention enables thorough mixing tobe effected in av much shorter distance than heretofore.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a diagram which enables the essential feature of the inventionto be readily understood Figs. 2. 7, 8 and 9. show different forms ofthe members constituting the device; and

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 represent diagrammatically different arrangementsof these members.

Assuming that the flue or passage is rectangular as shown in Fig. lY andthat a combustible gas into which the air necessary for combustion hasbeen introduced is flowing upwards, the air will flow along with thecurrent in one or more columns or strata parallel to the combustiblegaseous column or columns and the distance traveled would be veryconsiderable before mixing` would be effected.

Let it be assumed that the columns l, l1, l2 represent the current ofair, and that the columns a, 4:1, l2 represent the gaseous combustiblecurrent, the columns 2 and 3 being assumed to be already mixed. Thedevice which constitutes the subject matter of the present inventionconsists essentially in the employment of tubes of suitable shape whichare mounted in the flue or passage at an angle to the axis of the saidpassage, substantially as indicated in Fig. l, thesaid tubes being incontact with the opposite walls at their ends. In certain cases invertedgutters or semitubes. such as illustrated in Fig. 2. may be substitutedfor the aforesaid tubes. i

ltfwill be readily understood from Fig. l that the column l1 in risingwill enter the tube 5 and will be conducted to the other side of theflue or passage, and that the columns 4f, 4t2 will in the same way becaused to pass to the opposite side of the flue through the tubes 6 and7 and it follows therefrom that if a number of these tubes aresuperposed, arranged in alternating crossed relation, a systematict-ansfer of the gases from one side of the passage to the other and anintimate mixing of the gases will thus be very rapidly effected. Themixing is completed by the deflection and min- `fling caused by theobstacles which these tubes constitute.

Substantially the same result may be obtained with the means illustratedin Fig. 2, although the action is somewhat less positive and. inconsequence. the apparatus has to be extended a little further.

In practice the two means could be combined by employing complete tubes,as shown in Fig. 7, in the first stage, and then completing the mixingwith inverted gutters as shown in Figure 8. Thecombination of tubes andsemitubular gutters shown in Fig. 9 combines the advantages of bothmeans.

In Figure 4f the tubes are superposed parallel to each other butextending obliquely across the flue so that the column or stratum whichhas escaped from the first row meets the second row in its ascendingmovement, and so on.

The arrangement shown in Figure is applicable chiefly to larger fluesorpassages, for which it would be difficult to make oi refractorymaterials sufiioiently long tubes: in this case semi-tubes which conductthe deiected portions ot the gaseous current Yfrom the walls toward thecentre are employed.

In Figures 5 and 6 arrangements in which the tubes or semi-tubes arecrossed are indicated.

It will be seen from the foregoingthat by arranging and spacing apart anumber ot tubes, semitubes o1' inverted gutters in the manner describedthe gaseous strata or columns are divided up into a number ot' veins orstreams, Every second vein or stream can pass freely between the tubesor semi-tubes which, on the other hand` deflect the other halt oli thedivided current and oblige the portions passing` therethrough to followtrajectories different from those of the veins or streams which passbetween them. The gases which pass through the inclined tubes orsemi-tubes are thus transferred into other Zones ot the current wherethey come into contact with gases having different characteristics andwith which it is desired to mix them.

This systematic and mutual transferT vein by vein, of the differentstrata or columns from one to the other may be repeated several times byproviding several rows of these inclined tubes or semi-tubes arrangedone after the other and preferably in crosswise formation.

Claims:

l. AA mixing device for gases flowing or circulating in strata orcolumns parallel to each other, the combination oi" a flue, or the like,conducting said gases and a series of substantially hollow obstructionsextending obliquely across said flue, whereby the gases passing alongone side of the flue are caused to pass into and cross over through saidhollow obstructions and be conducted to the opposite side of said Hue ina direction transversely to the general flow, resulting in a completeintermingling and mixing of said gases.

2. A, mixing device for gases flowing or circulating;- in strata orcolumns parallel to each other, the combination ot a flue, or the like,conducting said gases, anda series of diagonally disposed tubularmembers extending crosswise of each other within said flue, whereby thegases :from the opposite sides of said flue are caused to cross over,passing into and through said tubular members and be conducted in adirection transversely to the general How, resulting in a completeint'ermingling and mixing of said gases. y y

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' ROD. WILLIAM BURCKHARDT.

lVitnesses.`

VVTLLrMr E. HOLLAND,

FRIDA LALADIN.

